At the Height of Austria

Experience a lofty view of Austria from the Dachstein Skywalk, travel to the National Park Hohe Tauern where the eagles roam, or follow the banks of the famous Danube River along the Donausteig.

Views From Above

The Dachstein Skywalk has been called "the most spectacular outlook platform in the Alps". Situated at 2,700m and constructed on the edge of a 250m high vertical cliff of the Hunerkogel, it has the most outstanding panoramic 360-degree view of the southern wall of the mighty Dachstein mountain and some of the most beautiful summits in the Alps. Other viewing stations have also been constructed in the Alps offering similar views. From the Kitzsteinhorn you are eyeball- to-eyeball with the Grossglockner and from the Adlerhorst Rofan you look across to the wild Karwendel and Rofan mountain ranges.

Austria's Own App

If you have an iPhone you can now be at the forefront of holiday planning when you download the free of charge iAlps Austria application. It offers a range of useful information for your holiday, before and after arrival, including recommendations about where to stay (from people who know what they're talking about), where to drink and dine, cultural sights and special events happening during your visit. There are resort maps and others which display hiking trails and mountain bike routes, as well as climbing tours and biking paths in each region. With the latest weather reports and available in several different languages, don't plan without it.

Where the Eagles Roam

National Park Hohe Tauern was founded in 1981, becoming Austria’s first national park. At more than 1800 square km and stretching over parts of the provinces of Carinthia, Salzburg and Tirol, an amazing third of all of Austria's plant species and about 10,000 animal species live and thrive here. The golden eagle is one of the big five who live in this protected area and is a wonderful draw for visitors. Learn about the nesting habits, hunting patterns and territorial tendencies of this amazing bird of prey.

Along the River

The Donausteig is 450km of hiking heaven that runs along the banks of the famous Danube river, winding its way past the historic city of Passau, through forested highlands to the breathtaking Schlogen bend. Along the way, in the Bavarian and Upper Austria Danube regions, there are 64 hotels and inns that have established themselves as "Donausteig Hosts". As well as offering a place for hikers to stay, they also provide expert information about the trail to help along the way. There are 40 different routes of varying lengths to choose from and mountain bikes are available for those who prefer a bit of speed.

UNESCO Home for Birds

The cultural landscape of National Park Neusiedler See-Seewinkel is a proud UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its habitats include a shallow lake of steppes, reed beds, salt lakes which periodically dry out, small-surfaced sand dunes and the lowland moor of Hanság. The National Park is a stepping stone for many migratory birds on their flight from northern Europe to Africa. Of the more than 300 proven species making a stopover here, many are rare in variety, not found anywhere else in Europe.

Why Go Hiking in Austria?

Austria is the ideal hiking destination, with fascinating landscapes and a network of trails at varying altitudes and levels of difficulty. Here are 10 reasons why to choose Austria for your next hiking holiday.